Sixth-graders at a Boston high school recently undertook a two-day study program on living with traumatic brain injury. This wasn't just a theoretical course, however. Although some theory was taught, in several classrooms, stations were set up where they were asked to perform dressing and eating activities, with limitations and with adaptive equipment.

When asked to pick small matching objects from gift bags without looking and with mittens on, to simulate decreased sensation in the hands and fingers, student responses ranged from 'frustrating' through to 'impossible.'

The study days were presented by the Krempels Brain Injury Foundation of Portsmouth, N.H. and presented in conjunction with a schoolwide yearlong campaign titled We Can Make a Difference. Students learned about the causes and physical, emotional, and social implications of brain injury; how to recognize and respond to someone who is brain-injured; and injury prevention, such as wearing a helmet while riding a bike and skateboarding.

Read about the journey of David Krempel, the founder of the foundation and a survivor of TBI.